OSHA: Toxic chemicals at North Island facility

The Navy has been cited for safety violations that exposed up to 350 employees at an aircraft hangar in Coronado to the toxic chemicals lead, cadmium and beryllium, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday.

OSHA inspectors found widespread contamination in one aircraft hangar at the North Island Naval Air Station aircraft maintenance facility, including in areas where employees worked on jets and stored and ate meals.

The facility is part of the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, where military and civilian employees carry out regular maintenance on F/A-18 fighter jets.

OSHA issued two notices for alleged willful violations, which indicate intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements or plain indifference to worker safety and health.

The federal safety agency also issued citations for two alleged serious violations, which indicate there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

No fines will be charged because OSHA can’t demand money from another federal agency, a spokeswoman said.

Jay Vicory, director of the agency’s San Diego office, said OSHA closely checked the facility after receiving complaints from employees. He said he did not know if any had fallen ill but OSHA plans to recommend an assessment by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, part of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Exposing workers to metals such as lead, cadmium and beryllium can result in serious illness and even fatal respiratory disease,” Vicory said. “We are encouraged by the Department of the Navy’s response to OSHA’s intervention, and we are working cooperatively with that department to further mitigate the hazards uncovered.”

Navy spokesman Michael Furlano officials there were surprised by the citations because two of the chemicals – lead and beryllium – are not used in the maintenance process.

Navy officials have concluded that these chemicals must be lurking in paint and nooks and crannies of the 100-year-old aircraft hangar where the violations were found.

Cadmium is used to prevent corrosion on aircraft.

Furlano said the Navy is implementing an extensive plan to address the problem. The facility is also undergoing an industrial cleaning that will pull out decades-old residue from toxic materials, and employees will now mop areas where cadmium is used instead of sweeping them.

Workers have been asked to notify the Navy if they have any health issues that could be related to the exposure.

The lunch rooms have been closed for now. When they reopen, Furlano said, the Navy will step up its enforcement of policies requiring employees to remove their work coveralls before entering them and washing hands before leaving work spaces, he said.

“Obviously, we’re committed to the safety of our personnel and we’re not going to take this lightly,” Furlano said.

In 2011, the same Navy facility was cited for 21 serious violations stemming from inspections.